FAQs for International and Visiting US students

In compliance with University policy and immigration control, international students must pay their fees before they are permitted to complete formal registration for their NUI Galway course. US visiting students who have arranged to pay their NUI Galway fees via their home College must furnish such payment details to the NUI Galway fees office in advance of registration. International and Visiting US Students who have successfully applied for a course/programme at NUI Galway will have been allocated a ’pre registration’ 8 digit student ID which should be quoted on all fee transactions and correspondence.

How do I register?

Please see our Registration website for full details. Registration opens on 22nd August 2013.

How do I pay my fees?

1. Payment via recognised agent ’EduStep’ (PaytoStudy)

Non-European Union (EU) students are strongly advised to pay their tuition fee through the PaytoStudy website.

The PaytoStudy receipt is accepted as proof of payment of tuition fees by the Irish National Immigration Service (INIS) for study visa applications and at the point of entry to Ireland.

With PaytoStudy there is no international bank transfer fee and the entire transaction takes just 48 hours from start to finish. PaytoStudy is also recommended by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service for the purposes of study visa applications.

2. International Wire Transfer

Alternatively, you may also pay by international wire transfer, using the following bank account details:

The processing time and the fee for sending international wire transfers may vary from bank to bank. Please allow for up to 10 working days for processing. Please ensure you quote your name and Student ID number when paying by international bank transfer.

3. Bank GiroStudents resident in Ireland can request a personalised Bank Giro from the Fees office by emailing fees@nuigalway.ie. You can then take the giro to the nearest bank and pay ’over the counter’. Your details on the personalised Bank Giro will facilitate the credit of your payment to your fee account when returned by the bank to the University.

Please note that on payment of fees, students should quote their student identity number so that payments can be matched to the students' record.

When can I pay my fees?

Payment MUST be received by NUI Galway before formal registration can be completed.

What is the University policy for Fee Refunds?

The University accepts no obligation to refund fees once a student has registered.

However, International students who have paid some or part of their fees to the University but are subsequently unsuccessful in their visa application will be refunded the amount they have paid, less an admisistrative fee of €190 within 60 days of formal withdrawal. They must provide documentary evidence of visa refusal. The University requires confirmation from the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Services (Visa Section) that the visa has been refused.

FAQs for International and Visiting US students

In compliance with University policy and immigration control, international students must pay their fees before they are permitted to complete formal registration for their NUI Galway course. US visiting students who have arranged to pay their NUI Galway fees via their home College must forward evidence of funding to the NUI Galway Fees Office in advance of registration. International and visiting US students who have successfully applied for a course/programme at NUI Galway will have been allocated a ’pre registration’ 8 digit student ID which should be quoted on all fee transactions and correspondence.

There are three methods as follows:

(1) Payment via recognised agent ’EduStep’ - PaytoStudy: Non-European Union (EU) students are strongly advised to pay their tuition fee through the PaytoStudy. The PaytoStudy receipt is accepted as proof of payment of tuition fees by the Irish National Immigration Service (INIS) for study visa applications and at the point of entry to Ireland. With PaytoStudy there is no international bank transfer fee and the entire transaction takes just 48 hours from start to finish. PaytoStudy is also recommended by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service for the purposes of study visa applications.

(3) Bank Giro: International students that are resident in Ireland can request a unique bank giro giro here for payment at any bank in the Republic of Ireland. This will be posted to your Irish address and you can then take the giro to the nearest bank, within the Republic of Ireland, and pay ’over the counter’. Your details on the personalised bank giro will facilitate the credit of your payment to your fee account when returned by the bank to the University. Please use your PAC / CAO 8 digit student ID number in all transactions.

The University accepts no obligation to refund fees once a student has registered, see policy document.

However International students who have paid some or part of their fees to the University but are subsequently unsuccessful in their visa application will be refunded the amount they have paid, less an administrative fee of €190 within 60 days of formal withdrawal. They must provide documentary evidence of visa refusal. The University requires confirmation from the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Servicen(Visa Section) that the visa has been refused.

Students who wish to withdraw must do so offically by contacting the Student Contact centre.

The definition of an EU student for fee purposes: EU nationals (i.e. holding an EU Passport/or Birth Certificate) who have been ordinarily resident* in an EU member state for at least three of the five years immediately preceding their entry to the third level course.

a. *ordinarily resident excludes residency for educational purposes.

b. The EU/Non-EU fee status determined on entry to a course will be applied for the duration of the course.

c. An EU student who is dependent on financial assistance from a source outside of the EU will be treated as a Non-EU student for fee purposes, and accordingly, the full Economic Fee will be payable.

In order to be eligible for EU (as opposed to the higher Non EU) fee rates, applicants must qualify through Nationality or Residency – see below. (N.B. Eligibility for EU fee rates does NOT confer entitlement to ’free fees’. You should contact the Fees Office if in doubt

(1) Nationality: If the student holds EU Nationality or official IRISH refugee status, and has received ALL of his/her full-time post-primary education in the EU, they are eligible for the EU rate of fees. This applies even if the student has not been resident in the EU for three of the five years immediately prior to university entry.

(2) Residence: Irrespective of (a) above, if the student’s principal residence for the purpose of taxation has been in an EU member state for at least 3 of the 5 years immediately prior to university entry, they may be eligible for the EU rate of fees. Prior residence as a full time student does not ensure eligibility for the EU rate of fees.